Professional Development
MIDP employs a full-time professional development coordinator who serves as a knowledgeable resource to fellows who seek to enhance their internship and job searches. The coordinator provides one-on-one career counseling, assists fellows with securing internships, runs career skills workshops, organizes discussions with visiting development practitioners, and maintains access to a variety of networking resources. MIDP Fellows also have access to the larger Duke University Career Services Office, which employs a career counselor who works exclusively with Duke graduate students.
Internships
The summer internship is a mandatory component of the two-year master’s degree program and is recommended to those in the one-year program track. Because fellows are mid-career professionals, they are able to secure internships that allow them to work on substantive issues, and these internships sometimes lead to a full-time position after graduation. Since many fellows obtain internships with major international organizations, the summer also provides an opportunity to enhance their professional networks, which also greatly improves the job search after graduation. Some MIDP Fellows participating in the Duke Program on Global Policy and Governance summer internship in Geneva, Switzerland, earn competitive scholarships. For more information, visit the Geneva Program website.
Alumni Network
MIDP maintains close connections with close to 300 alumni working in over 65 countries around the world. As senior officials with international organizations, foreign governments and international NGOs, our alumni are a valuable networking resource for current fellows who may want to intern or work at one of these locations. MIDP alumni travel to Duke for career workshops and may be available for informational interviews during the annual MIDP professional development trip to Washington, D.C.
Workshops
Each semester, fellows are encouraged to take advantage of a range of weekly skills workshops created to assist with the internship and job search process and professional development in general. Some workshop examples include:
- Resumes and cover letters
- Networking
- Informational interviewing
- Software training (PowerPoint, etc.)
Each semester, we invite colleagues and alumni to participate in two programs: Meet & Greet and Alumni-in-Residence. These opportunities are designed for fellows to meet working professionals face-to-face to discuss their area of expertise and work experience.
Washington, D.C., Professional Development Trip
Each year, MIDP Fellows travel to Washington, D.C., to spend a day attending group meetings with different sectors of the World Bank and other international organizations. Fellows attend panel sessions that bring together development practitioners from different international organizations and NGOs operating in Washington, D.C. These panelists discuss their career paths, share general professional advice, and discuss internships and job opportunities that may exist within their organizations.
For more information about MIDP Professional Development, please contact:
Linda Scovill
Professional Development Coordinator
Master of International Development Policy
Duke Center for International Development
Rubenstein Hall, Room 255
Durham, NC 27708-0237
Telephone: (919) 613-9242
Fax: (919) 684-2816
Email: scovill@duke.edu